BRIEFLY IN ARTS AND ENTERTAINMENT

Record-breaking auctions at Sawdust

The Sawdust Festival’s two auctions last weekend both broke festival records.

The Benevolence Fund auction grossed more than $18,000, making it the Sawdust’s most successful in history; the Project Skimboard 2 auction experienced a nearly $8,000 increase over last year’s auction, with a total gross of $26,000.

The highest-priced item of the day — Jane Slowsky, Patty Slowsky-Enfield and John Enfield’s “Honey Buns,” a skimboard composed of fused glass and hardwoods — went for $3,200.

The money raised at the Benevolence Fund auction goes to the Artists Benevolence Fund, which grants money to Laguna Beach artists in times of need.

The Project Skimboard 2 money goes to the Sawdust’s education fund and the Surfrider Foundation’s Laguna Beach chapter.

Laguna Art Museum seeks docents

The Laguna Art Museum’s Docent Corps is seeking individuals to join their 2007 Provisional Docent class. For more information and a form, contact Derry Coe at covail@fea.net.

‘Blowin’ Smoke’ at Bluebird Park

Rhythm and blues is on the menu for the summer concert series, with Blowin’ Smoke at 5 p.m. this Sunday at Bluebird Park, Cress Street at Bluebird Canyon Drive.

No bicycles, scooters, bikes, dogs, smoking, tables, high chairs or umbrellas are allowed at the concerts. Parking is limited; attendees are encouraged to arrive early with a low-backed chair and a picnic.

The concerts are funded by the city and lodging establishments located within city limits.

For more information, call (949) 497-0722.

Future acts include Tina Turner tribute artists Proud Mary on Aug. 27 and Latin jazz performers Chico on Sept. 3.

The series will move to Riddle Field, High Drive at Hillcrest Drive, for rock and roll and soul artists Soundbyte on Sept. 10, from 4 to 6 p.m.

Asian arts, crafts, music at Festival

The Festival of Arts will celebrate the legacy of Asia culture Saturday at “Asian Arts Day,” free with festival admission.

A series of live performers will be the highlight of the day. Traditional Korean dance at 1 p.m. will be followed by South Indian dance at 2 p.m., Cambodian classical dance and music at 2:30 p.m., a Chinese lion dance at 3 p.m. and Daion Taiko drummers at 3:30 p.m.

In addition, the Bowers Museum will offer Asian-influenced face painting. Visitors will also be able to participate in Japanese Raku pottery workshops, Chinese brush stroking with Hal Lambert and printmaking workshops.

The Festival of Arts, 650 Laguna Canyon Road, is open daily from 10 a.m. to 11:30 p.m. through Sept. 1 (closed Aug. 26). The Act V parking lot on Laguna Canyon Road is recommended. Festival admission prices are $7 for general admission and $4 for seniors and students. All general admission tickets are season passes. Laguna Beach residents with ID receive free admission as do children under the age of 12. For information, call (949) 494-1145 or visit www.LagunaFestivalofArts.org.

Jazz @ the Beach Wednesday

Laguna Beach Live! presents the Watson-Ordiano Project on Wednesday in the Rose Garden of the Hotel Laguna, 425 S. Coast Highway, featuring trumpeter Bijon Watson, Carlos Ordiano on keyboards, Rene Camacho on bass and Felix Pollard on drums.

Watson is lead trumpet for the Clayton-Hamilton Jazz Orchestra, the Gerald Wilson Jazz Orchestra, the Luckman Jazz Orchestra under the direction of James Newton, the Jazz on the Latin Side All-Stars, and many other jazz, salsa and pop bands throughout the United States.

The concert will be held from 6 to 8 p.m.; doors open at 5 p.m. There is a $10 cover charge; drinks and wines by the glass and tapas are available for purchase.

For information or to make reservations for groups of eight or more, visit www.lagunabeachlive.org or call (949) 715-9713.

Jazz @ the Beach continues with the Jamie Shew Quintet on Sept. 13 in a tribute to Nancy Wilson and Cannonball Adderley; M & M: the Music of Monk and Mingus, featuring trombonist Joey Sellers on Sept. 27; and the Kristin Korb Trio on Oct. 11.

Trimarche appointed to Art Museum board

Laguna Beach resident Greg Trimarche has been appointed to the Board of Trustees at the Laguna Art Museum.

Trimarche is a shareholder in the Orange County office of law firm Greenberg Traurig LLP. He is former chair of the State Bar of California’s environmental law section.